As Voldemort's cold incantation rang out, Rubeus Hagrid's massive body lifted violently into the air.
The half-giant's natural resistance to magic allowed him to endure spells that would cripple ordinary wizards—
But Voldemort was no ordinary wizard.
And this was Voldemort himself casting the Cruciatus Curse.
Hagrid's body twisted unnaturally. His face contorted into something barely human as unbearable agony tore through every nerve.
After a long moment, he was slammed back into the ground.
Voldemort gazed down at him, eyes gleaming with cold amusement.
"Do you see now? This is what happens when you follow Albus Dumbledore."
"You've fought his wars. Shed blood for him."
"And yet you're still nothing more than a gamekeeper—
A man not even permitted to openly use a wand."
"If you were smart enough to tell me how to bypass the three-headed dog, you'd gain far more than this miserable existence."
Hagrid painfully turned his head and spat blood at Voldemort, struggling to reach for his umbrella.
"What I've gained… you'll never understand."
"And don't you dare insult Dumbledore in front of me."
Voldemort's patience snapped.
"Fool."
"You think your bones are hard?"
"Fine."
"Let's test them."
"The night is still long."
"Crucio.
Crucio.
Crucio."
His form slithered through the Forbidden Forest like a serpent.
Hagrid was dragged behind him by an invisible force, blood trailing across roots and stones. His umbrella slipped from his grasp and vanished into the undergrowth.
Soon, another unicorn's dying cry echoed through the forest.
At that moment, Theodore Ashbourne was already flying hard into the Forbidden Forest on his broom.
Branches clawed at him like grasping hands. He ignored them all.
The Microscopic Heavenly Eye was fully activated.
The forest was vast beyond imagination. Even with enhanced perception, Theodore could only search a fragment at a time.
A single region alone could sustain an Acromantula colony larger than carriages—despite Hagrid feeding them regularly.
That alone proved the forest's scale.
During his time in the Restricted Section, Theodore had uncovered records centuries old.
When Hogwarts was first founded, Helga Hufflepuff had deliberately cultivated this forest.
A self-sustaining ecosystem: potion ingredients, magical flora, emergency food supplies.
A fortress even if the castle were sealed.
But peace did not last.
After the Founders' schism—and Salazar Slytherin's departure—the forest changed.
Students vanished. Survivors returned broken.
The forest was sealed.
A gamekeeper was appointed.
Later, Hufflepuff herself disappeared.
Only Rowena Ravenclaw remained. She imposed absolute prohibition.
The forest continued expanding—beyond Hogwarts' wards—until it stabilized.
Then Theodore saw it.
Blood.
Scattered droplets.
And—
Hagrid's umbrella.
Theodore's expression froze.
He surged forward.
Voldemort rose from a unicorn's corpse, casually licking blood from his fingers.
Tonight, his fortune was extraordinary.
Three unicorns already.
Each draught stabilized his form further.
Though the curse of unicorn blood ensured this body would never truly live, it was far better than clinging to rodents in Albania.
As for Quirrell—
Irrelevant.
He turned back to Hagrid.
The half-giant lay broken, soaked in blood. Bones shattered. Joints twisted.
Only giant blood kept him alive.
Barely.
"One last chance," Voldemort said.
"How do I get past the three-headed dog?"
Hagrid bared blood-soaked teeth.
To prevent betrayal—
To prevent Imperius—
He had bitten off his own tongue.
Voldemort sighed.
"You really think that dog matters now?"
"I only wished to save time."
His wand leveled.
"Then die first."
"And Dumbledore will follow."
"Avada—"
Green light gathered.
Hagrid closed his eyes.
—
A sharp whistle cut through the forest.
Voldemort reacted instantly.
Silver Transfiguration snapped into place—deflecting a stone fired at lethal velocity.
His eyes burned.
"Theodore Ashbourne?!"
Hagrid's eyes flew open.
Through blurred vision, he saw Theodore land.
With his last strength, Hagrid staggered forward, placing himself in front of the boy.
Run.
But Theodore stepped past him.
"Hagrid… I can't understand you."
"Come on."
"I'll take you back to Hogwarts."
"No one is stopping us tonight."
"Not this thing."
"Not even a god."
The System Interface flared.
You charge forward without retreat, racing to Meishan to rescue Yuan Hong.
Loyalty ignites your soul. Valor eclipses sun and moon.
If you do not return—
Then you do not return!
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